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Sunday, 10 March 2013

Four days in Edinburgh

Back when I was in Korea, at the turn of the new year into 2012, I'd already made the resolution to travel to Scotland with my mum. It took a while for us to organise it, and actually go, but this February we stuck to our word and spent a long weekend in Edinburgh. Blessed with awesome weather, we had an amazing time. Edinburgh is an incredible city. Just as everyone I'd spoken to before we went had said, we really enjoyed those few days. Obviously it would have made a difference if the weather had been drab and rainy, but even so I can't wait to head up to Scotland again. All these years living only a few hours away and I'd never ventured there before!As we only had a few days we had decided beforehand what we wanted to see and do. Our trip coincided with an exhibition on David Livingstone, the famous Scottish missionary and explorer. We have a connection with Livingstone, as he lived and studied at my mum's church for a few months before heading off to Africa. They still have one of his walking sticks on display. On one of our days we decided to take one of the bus tours around the city. I've always found these to be such a great way to see the main sights, and get an idea of the places you want to see more of when visiting a place. They are quite expensive but you get a general guided tour and it's a good way to see more of the city if you don't have much time in one place. Other days we spent walking up to Arthur's Seat and exploring Edinburgh Castle and Hollyrood House. I'm so glad I've finally visited scotland, and cannot wait for the next trip up north.

A brave woman standing up for what she believes in. A woman after my own heart!

:: This is a plaque, on the floor of St Giles Cathedral is dedicated to Jenny Geddes who was a Scottish market-trader in Edinburgh, who is alleged to have thrown her stool at the head of the minister in St Giles' Cathedral in objection to the first public use of the AnglicanBook of Common Prayer in ::

Due to the window tax imposed by William III, many windows were bricked up to save on money. There are loads of examples of this all over England. Here in Scotland, instead of just bricking up the hole, they pained over the area to make it look as though the window was still there. Ingenious!

A young Queen Victoria

The hotel where Agatha Christie spent her honeymoon

Mum and I outside Hollyrood House

The Mackenzie Tomb

:: There is a myth that a poltergeist lives in this tomb. I was not brave enough to shout through the keyhole (the way to antagonise the ghost). I took this picture and fled! ::

Greyfriars Bobby's grave, loaded with sticks for him to fetch.

Auld Jock's grave, where Bobby held his vigil for 14 years.

William Smellie's grave; the editor of the first Encyclopaedia Britannica